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Every photon counts...

Welcome to the Moravian Instruments web site devoted to cameras for low light imaging in astronomy and microscopy.

Introducing C2-9000, perfect camera for serious beginners

as well as experienced astro-photographers and researchers.

More details here.

New Off-Axis Guider Adapter for C5 Cameras	28.6.2023

The C5 cameras are equipped with particularly large sensors, which impose quite big demands for the field of view — the used optics must be able to create high quality picture far from the optical axis. Off-axis guider adapters (OAG) further increase the demands for the size of the field. OAG incorporates a small diagonal mirror, reflexing the incoming light to the guider port, where is the guiding camera attached. And this mirror must be located far enough from the optical axis not to shield the imaging sensor from incoming light. Increased demands for the optics is the reason we did not introduce the C5-OAG together with C5 cameras. But users asked for it, so we introduce it now.

M51 “Whirlpool Galaxy” (C2-9000 first light)	26.5.2023

The image shown here was acquired by Martin Myslivec with a first C2-9000 production camera on the 400mm Newtonian telescope. Despite rather modest exposure times, just 2.5 hours per LRGB channel, the resulting image shows the famous M51 in incredible details.

New version of the C1× camera with Trigger input and GPS module	12.5.2023

GPS satellite signal receivers provide location information and also very precise (sub-microsecond) timing information. Integration of the GPS receiver with an astronomical camera thus allows very precise timing of exposures. Geographic location data, also available to the control software through specific commands, is an added bonus. The GPS receiver module port on the new C1× cameras is identical to the port of the C5 cameras, so both camera lines use the same receiver modules. What's more, the new C1× cameras also contain trigger input port, which allows external devices to determine start of exposures. This functionality can be used for precise exposure timing from external signal source and/or for synchronized exposures of multiple cameras etc.

New C2-9000 Camera with IMX533 CMOS sensor	26.5.2023

The C2-9000 is a perfect starter camera for any serious beginner, regardless if he or she aims to capture beautiful images of deep-sky objects or to acquire serious data for astronomical research. With the sensor size approximately 11 × 11 millimeters, C2-9000 does not demand latest correctors and flatteners, it perfectly works even with common optics. But C2-9000 is not for beginners only, it grows with the user and its high sensitivity, exceptional dynamic range, low read noise and dark current are appreciated also by the most advanced astro-imagers as well as researchers demanding the best possible data. Compact yet robust, time-proven body of the C2 camera allows for all-containing device with mechanical shutter and internal filter wheel, very efficient and regulated sensor cooling and extremely fast USB3 connection. Options do not end here — C2-9000 can integrate with external filter wheels with up to 12 filer positions, OAG adapters, Nikon and Canon bayonets and numerous other telescope interface standards.

M20 “Trifid” nebula	22.12.2022

Famous M20 “Trifid” nebula images by CielAustral group show this iconic object in real colors, captured through red, green and blue filters, as well as in somewhat unusual combination of real-color data with images acquired through narrow-band filters.

Messier 16 “Eagle nebula”	27.9.2022

If there is a contest for the most aesthetically pleasing image of a deep sky object, this image of M16 “Eagle nebula” by Wolfgang Prompter would be among the finalists, at last according to our opinion (esthetics is subjective). The chosen false-color palette and framing of the faint structures in the nebula create beautiful artwork.

C5 Series CMOS Cameras	17.7.2023

C5 camera series is designed to accommodate the latest generation of extremely large Sony IMX CMOS sensors with 100 and 150 MPx resolution and diagonal dimension up to 67 mm. Many of the used sensor properties share the exceptional features of the sensors used in the C3 series, including the 3.76 μm pixel size with the full-well capacity exceeding 50 ke-, very high quantum efficiency thanks to back-illuminated design and very low dark current. C5 sensors also offer 16 bit digitization, perfectly linear response to light and exceptionally low read noise. Despite very large sensors, the C5 camera head dimensions are the same like the Enhanced Cooling variants of the C3 and C4 series. All these features make C5 cameras the ultimate devices for both aesthetic astro-photography as well as astronomical research.

Moravian Instruments astronomical cameras in science	5.7.2022

Moravian Instruments astronomical cameras are often presented as tools for getting beautiful pictures of the deep sky wonders. But Moravian cameras have also other side — they are often used to gather scientific measurements leading to world-class research.

C1× Series CMOS Cameras	16.3.2023

C1× cameras employ the same sensors like the C3 series — latest generation of Sony APS and Full-Frame (24 × 36 mm) CMOS sensors, offering exceptional quantum efficiency thanks to back-illuminated design and very low dark current. Despite relatively small pixels, full-well capacity exceeds 50 ke-, rivaling cameras with much greater pixels. Combined with full 16 bit digitization, perfectly linear response to light and exceptionally low read noise, these cameras are suitable for both aesthetic astro-photography as well as astronomical research. At the same time the C1× camera head is designed to be symmetrical, with as small front cross-section as possible.

C3 Series CMOS Cameras	28.6.2023

C3 cameras employ the latest generation of Sony IMX CMOS sensors, offering exceptional quantum efficiency thanks to back-illuminated design and very low dark current. Despite relatively small pixels, full-well capacity exceeds 50 ke-. Combined with full 16 bit digitization, perfectly linear response to light and exceptionally low read noise, these cameras are suitable for both aesthetic astro-photography as well as astronomical research. Sensor formats from APS to photographic full-frame (24 × 36 mm) ensure wide field of view and optimally utilize capabilities of the optical systems most commonly used by amateur astronomers.

C4 Series CMOS Cameras	28.6.2023

The C4-16000 cooled scientific CMOS camera sensors offer the same geometry like the CCDs in the famous G4-16000 cameras — sensor size 37 × 37 mm, 9 μm pixels and 16 MPx (4k × 4k) resolution. Also the mechanical design of C4 cameras inherits from G4 Mark II cameras, which makes the C4 camera line fully compatible with vast range of telescope adapters, off-axis guider adapters, filter wheels, Camera Ethernet adapters, guiding cameras etc.

C1+7000 and C2-7000 cooled CMOS cameras replace the G2-1600 CCD camera in research applications	2.11.2020

New cooled CMOS cameras C1+7000 and C2-7000 offer quite large pixels of 4.5 μm, especially compared to majority of other CMOS based cameras available. As CCD sensors, often employing much bigger pixels, are no longer available, even relatively small increase in pixel size of a CMOS sensor significantly increases some key parameters like dynamic range (pixel area and thus also a number of electrons each pixel can accommodate corresponds to the square of pixel dimension).

C1+ Series CMOS Cameras	14.5.2021

C1+ camera models are designed to fulfill the gap between small and lightweight C1 models, intended as Moon and planetary cameras and auto-guiders, and C2 cameras, equipped with active sensor cooling and mechanical shutter and thus intended for more serious astronomical imaging and research. C1+ cameras are able to work as C1 ones, only being somewhat heavier and bulkier, and at the same time C1+ can replace the C2 models, only with slightly less cooling performance and lack of mechanical shutter.

C2 Series CMOS Cameras	28.6.2023

The cooled C2 series CMOS cameras were developed for imaging under extremely low-light conditions in astronomy, microscopy and similar areas. Mechanical design of this series inherits from earlier CCD-based G2 Mark II cameras, which makes the C2 series fully compatible with vast range of telescope adapters, off-axis guider adapters, internal or external filter wheels, Camera Ethernet adapters, guiding cameras etc.

C1 Series CMOS Cameras	24.3.2021

The C1 series cameras with global shutter CMOS sensors were designed to be small, lightweight imagers for Moon and planets and for automatic telescope guiding. With proper image calibration, C1 cameras provide surprisingly good results also in entry-level deep-sky imaging. The used CMOS sensors response to light is linear up to very close to saturation point, so, C1 cameras can be used for scientific applications like variable star research, too.

Back Focal Distance of Gx Mark II cameras	22.11.2018

Gx Mark II cameras are available in many variants — individual G2, G3 and G4 series offer camera integration with internal or external filter wheels, Off-Axis Guider adapters, various threaded adapters as well as standard Canon EOS and Nikon lens bayonet adapters etc. One of the distinguishing feature of Mark II cameras is the telescope/lens adapter interface allowing precise adjustment of optical axis (sensor tilt). Despite the vast variability and many options, the Gx Mark II camera system was designed to maintain adapter-specified back focal distance of adjustable adapters on all camera variants.

Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter — Standard, Mini and Micro versions	8.12.2016

Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter allows connection of Gx series cameras (models G0 to G4) to the control computer using Ethernet interface and TCP/IP protocol stack (this means over Local or Wide Area Networks). Single Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter contains four USB 2.0 ports and allows connection of up to four Gx cameras at the same time (regardless of the specific series, cameras can be freely combined).

What can 64 bit operating system do and which driver versions to choose?	24.7.2015

“64 bits” is a new marketing buzz-word in the world of mobile phones and tablets, but it is rather common in the world of Personal Computers. Despite the 64 bit systems are available for many years, especially recently number of newly installed 32 bit systems sharply declines and 64 bit systems dominate. Surprisingly, general understanding what does it mean is very low and particularly baffling is the fact, that 64 bit operating system is (fortunately) perfectly capable to run 32 bit applications. The answer to the question which driver version (32 bit or 64 bit) to install requires understanding of a few concepts.

External filter wheels for Gx CCD cameras	19.5.2017

The ability to capture individual exposures through various filters is one of the key features of the cooled CCD cameras, regardless if being used for scientific research or for astronomical photography. This is why the Gx CCD cameras were designed to include the filter wheel inside the camera head and to integrate filter wheel control into camera control from the beginning. When more than 5 or 6 filters are necessary or the filter wheel has to be used with G4 camera, the filter wheel is too large to be placed inside the camera head. External filter wheel is then the only option.

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